Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo today awarded $13,574,937 in grants to fight drug abuse and other crimes in public housing and HUD-assisted housing.

Cuomo announced the funds as he toured Texas today - speaking before a convention of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) in San Antonio and announcing additional disaster aid for the state as he visited flood victims in Schertz.

Texas grants will be distributed to housing authorities and owners of HUD-subsidized housing for low-income families in the following cities:

Alamo	50,000
Anthony	100,000
Austin	602,379
Baytown	50,000
Beaumont	295,400
Brownsville Housing Authority	624,000
Brownsville Cameron County Housing Authority	232,000
Center	125,000
Commerce	95,500
Corpus Christi	651,790
Dallas	1,212,040
Del Rio	312,800
Del Valle	125,000
Denison	160,000
Dilley	122,897
Donna	50,000
Edinburg	373,600
El Paso	1,573,520
Fabens	100,000
Fort Worth	364,260
Galveston	368,680
Harlingen	426,400
Houston	1,258,480
Kingsville	163,800
La Joya	50,000
Laredo	288,300
Lubbock	174,300
McKinney	160,000
Mission	208,000
Monahans	50,000
Nacogdoches	117,300
New Boston	118,000
Odessa	100,000
Orange	106,800
Plano	50,000
Port Arthur	106,800
Port Lavaca	50,000
Robstown	328,000
Roma	50,000
San Antonio	250,000
San Augustine	125,000
San Juan	110,000
San Marcos	86,700
Sherman	89,400
Temple	263,677
Texarkana	196,200
Victoria	86,514
Waco	532,200
Wichita Falls	440,200

"These grants are good news for some of the poorest families in Texas and bad news for drug dealers who terrorize them," Cuomo said. "We will fight drug abuse with prevention and treatment programs and with a crackdown on drug dealers and other criminals. We are telling drug dealers in HUD housing to find another line of work or be sent to another type of subsidized housing - a prison cell."

Cuomo said that President Clinton's recent signature on the Department's $24.5 billion budget for the 1999 fiscal year, which he called "the best HUD budget in 10 years," will speed the transformation of public and assisted housing.

"HUD is transforming public housing from isolated ghettos of poverty, drugs, despair and crime into safe and economically integrated communities of opportunity," Cuomo said.

Nationwide, HUD is awarding $305.2 million in Drug Elimination Grants this year - more than in any previous year. The grants will be distributed in the next several weeks in this way: $280.6 million to 749 public housing authorities; $8 million to 39 Indian Tribes; and $16.6 million to 143 privately owned housing developments that receive HUD assistance.

Another 53 privately owned HUD-subsidized low-income housing developments will receive a total of $11.7 million from a similar program called the New Approach Anti-Drug Program.

Vice President Al Gore, Cuomo and Attorney General Janet Reno announced a four-part enforcement and prevention strategy to fight crime and drugs in public housing in June 1997. The grants announced today are one element of that strategy.

The Drug Elimination Grants are awarded on a competitive basis, based on the seriousness of the drug and crime problem facing a housing authority or assisted housing development, and the strength of local plans to address the problem. About 900 housing authorities, 60 Indian tribes and 500 privately owned housing developments applied for the grants being awarded this year.

HUD has awarded more than $1.6 billion in Drug Elimination Grants since 1989, including the grants being awarded this year.

In public housing, the Drug Elimination Grants are used for: drug prevention, intervention and treatment programs; reimbursing law enforcement agencies for providing additional security; hiring security guards and investigators; resident anti-crime patrols; and physical improvements to housing developments to enhance security - such as fencing, lighting and improved locks.

In assisted housing, the Drug Elimination Grants are used for: drug prevention and education programs; referrals to drug treatment and counseling; and physical improvements to developments to enhance security. Individual grants for assisted housing developments are limited to a maximum of $125,000.

The New Approach Anti-Drug Program (formerly known as the Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program) provides funds for improving security at HUD-assisted developments and in surrounding neighborhoods by: hiring security guards, paying for extra police patrols, assisting in the investigation and prosecution of drug-related criminal activity, and implementing security-related physical improvements.

HUD's budget for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1 increases funding for HUD's key programs and renewals of Section 8 rental assistance by a total of more than $2 billion in the budget over 1998 levels. Spending was increased on most HUD programs and wasn't cut in any programs.

Legislation passed in the same bill as HUD's budget will:

• Transform public housing by reducing segregation by race and income, encouraging and rewarding work, bringing more working families into public housing, and increasing the availability of subsidized housing for very poor families. In addition, the bill improves living conditions in public housing, gives the poorest families neighbors who will be role models of working families, and reduces crime. The bill also allows HUD to continue to tear down the largest failed public housing projects and replace them with new townhouse-style developments.

• Expand the supply of affordable housing by enabling 90,000 more families to get Section 8 rental assistance vouchers that will subsidize their rents in privately owned apartments - the first increase in vouchers in four years.

• Increase homeownership by raising the limit on home mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration from the current range of $86,317 in low-cost housing areas to $170,362 in high-cost areas. The bill increases the loan limits to a range of $109,032 in low-cost areas to $197,621 in high-cost areas. The higher ceiling on FHA-insured home mortgages opens the door of homeownership to thousands of families needing FHA insurance to get mortgages, but locked out now because the current loan limits have not kept pace with rising home prices.

HUD ANTI-DRUG ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS

• Alamo: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Alamo Housing Authority for programs to eliminate crime and illicit drug use in public housing. The program, modeled after the Justice Department "Weed and Seed" program includes policing and skill building for residents.

• Anthony: $100,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Anthony Housing Authority to develop programs to reduce crime-related activities. The programs will include increased security and anti-drug prevention.

• Austin: $482,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Austin Housing Authority to implement a comprehensive strategy to reduce drugs and drug-related crimes by providing policing, resident involvement and drug prevention. Another $120,379 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Oak Creek Village Apartments in Austin for physical improvements and resident programs.

• Baytown: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Baytown Housing Authority to increase drug awareness, a drug intervention program and continue security for residents.

• Beaumont: $170,400 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Beaumont Housing Authority to deter crime and violence in public housing with activities that include housing authority staff, residents and community partners. Project HOPE (Helping Others Prepare Economically) builds lives by creating opportunities for residents to obtain skills and counseling to become self-sufficient. Another $125,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Virginia Manor Apartments for fencing, access gates, ID cards, exterior lighting and a comprehensive children's summer Drug Prevention Education program.

• Brownsville: $624,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Brownsville Housing Authority to reduce drug related crime, establish a relationship with law enforcement agencies, empower public housing residents and improve their quality of life. The strategy involves active participation of numerous local, county and state agencies to build long-lasting partnerships in targeted communities. Another $232,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Cameron County Housing Authority to eliminate drugs and drug-related crimes. The program will provide intervention services to low-income youth, increase low-income youth involvement in alternative activities, improve family relationships, encourage parental involvement and provide an early drug/gang intervention program to families and youth.

• Center: $125,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Union Acres Apartments to install exterior lighting and wrought iron fencing and gates. Contracts will be let to conduct a drug elimination youth program with Neighborhood Networks Computer Center.

• Commerce: $95,500 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Commerce Housing Authority to develop a dedicated drug prevention program that will eliminate or reduce the use and sale of drugs and enhance the lives of youth by teaching them life-long skills to break the cycle of ignorance and poverty.

• Corpus Christi: $526,790 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Corpus Christi Housing Authority to reduce drug-related crime. Housing Authority Police Patrol will be used to combat open drug trafficking. Security lights will be installed to increase safety and security of residents. An Employment and Training Specialist will be hired to assist residents with job placement. Another $125,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Casa De Manana to enhance physical security to the property; to train and educate families against drug use and to upgrade the common areas.

• Dallas: $1,212,040 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Dallas Housing Authority to prevent drug use through activities for residents in public housing properties. Funding will be distributed to the following: The Family Leadership Institute, the Young Olympians Sports Program, HOOPS (Helping Ourselves to Opportunities toward Progress and Self-Sufficiency), Home Study Centers, Junior Leadership Training, Teen Parenting, Operation Stay in School, and police foot patrols.

• Del Rio: $312,800 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Del Rio Housing Authority to address drug-related crime in Housing Authority developments. The Housing Authority will coordinate with law enforcement agencies, implement effective prevention and intervention programs including employment and training.

• Del Valle: $125,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Bergstrom Arms, a 98 unit-HUD assisted low-income housing development which will use funds to build a Community Room.

• Denison: $160,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Denison Housing Authority to continue the employment of security personnel, encourage tenant involvement and employ programs to reduce drug use.

• Dilley: $122,897 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Dilley Housing Authority to upgrade the physical conditions of the complex and to provide services to combat drug abuse through counseling and awareness.

• Donna: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Donna Housing Authority to reduce/eliminate drug-related crime. Security personnel will be used to combat open drug trafficking. Fencing will be installed to prevent pedestrian traffic and "speed bumps" will be installed in parking lots to control traffic. Training will be offered to residents to provide business opportunities in the community.

• Edinburg: $373,600 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Edinburg Housing Authority to reduce drug-related crime in targeted housing areas. The focus is to create education, training and employment opportunities; security upgrade and Tenant Patrol will be added to help patrol the areas.

• El Paso: $1,573,520 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to El Paso Housing Authority for physical improvements, a drug prevention program and enhanced security.

• Fabens: $100,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the El Paso County Housing Authority to enhance security with video surveillance and provide anti-drug activities for residents of public housing neighborhoods.

• Fort Worth: $364,260 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Fort Worth Housing Authority for law enforcement, education, individual and family counseling, positive recreational programs and self-sufficiency programs.

• Galveston: $368,680 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Galveston Housing Authority to provide supplementary law enforcement. Activities and training will continue to be utilized to prevent drug abuse.

• Harlingen: $426,400 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Harlingen Housing Authority to hire security personnel to patrol targeted housing areas and continue the "Vaquero" Program which works with ten at-risk youth to instill self-discipline, self-esteem, and pride in their heritage.

• Houston: $883,480 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Houston Housing Authority to reduce drug related crime through law enforcement agencies. Another $125,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Settegast Heights Apartments to replace perimeter fencing and install security cameras. A Drug Diversion Program will be administered on the property. Another $250,000 from the New Approach Anti-Drug program will go to the Arbor Court Apartments for high-visibility law enforcement programs to combat drug-related activities in the development. Drug prevention is also a focus of this effort.

• Kingsville: $163,800 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Kingsville Housing Authority to abate drugs in targeted areas through law enforcement, drug intervention and education.

• La Joya: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to La Joya Housing Authority to address the drug-related crime in targeted areas with law enforcement agencies and to implement prevention and intervention programs which include employment and training.

• Laredo: $288,300 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Laredo Housing Authority to conquer drug-related criminal activity. Intramural sports, leadership training, employment training, adult education and financial counseling will help residents on the road to self-sufficiency.

• Lubbock: $174,300 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Lubbock Housing Authority to reduce the effects of drugs and drug related crime in targeted communities. The program will focus on strengthening family, community partnerships, and a contracted security force.

• McKinney: $160,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to McKinney Housing Authority to employ a Community Organizer to coordinate drug education and prevention programs for residents and to implement Resident Initiatives aimed at eliminating the influence of drugs.

• Mission: $208,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Mission Housing Authority to reduce drug-related crime through law enforcement agencies and empower public housing residents to improve their quality of life with education and training.

• Monahans: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Monahans Housing Authority to strengthen and protect targeted neighborhoods against drugs and drug-related crimes by employing a combination of law enforcement, specialized agencies and residents.

• Nacogdoches: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Nacogdoches Housing Authority to fund a risk reduction resiliency enhancement based program for youth and adults. Another $67,300 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Oak Hill Apartments to enhance security and protect against vandalism.
• New Boston: $118,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to New Boston to eliminate drugs and drug related crime in targeted areas and provide good, safe homes and supportive living environments for public housing residents.

• Odessa: $100,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Odessa Housing Authority to help educate and counsel residents and youth about drugs.

• Orange: $106,800 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Orange Housing Authority to eliminate drugs and drug-related crime through the "Weed and Seed" program.

• Plano: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Plano Housing Authority to address the problems of drug abuse and drug-related crime using PRIDE (Positive Resistance in Drug Elimination).

• Port Arthur: $106,800 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Port Arthur Housing Authority to provide residents activities including education and job training programs.

• Port Lavaca: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Port Lavaca Housing Authority to implement a drug prevention program to educate residents in after-school and summer programs.

• Robstown: $78,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Robstown Housing Authority to reduce drug-related activities; establish relationships with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies; empower residents and increase the quality of life for targeted residents. Another $250,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to American G.I. Forum Village, Phase I and II for security fencing and security improvements to deter unwanted individuals from entering the property.

• Roma: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Roma Housing Authority to combat drug-related crime through law enforcement and tenant patrol.

• San Antonio: $250,000 from the New Approach Anti-Drug program for the West Avenue Apartments for efforts to deter and eliminate crime and drug activity on the Near East-West side of San Antonio. Activities will focus on increased police presence, the installation of surveillance equipment and drug prevention programs.

• San Augustine: $125,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to private landlords of subsidized housing at Sunset Hills Apartments for closed circuit surveillance and other security equipment.

• San Juan: $110,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to private landlords of subsidized housing at San Juan Village Apartments for security and surveillance equipment. Off-duty police will be hired for additional security.

• San Marcos: $86,700 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to San Marcos Housing Authority to reduce the incidence of drug-related crime in targeted areas. The program combines positive youth activities which stress parental involvement, economic and family development, education, training and involvement in the community.

• Sherman: $89,400 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Sherman Housing Authority to combat drugs in public housing through additional security and social services programmed to deal with recreational and educational activities.

• Temple: $156,736 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Temple Housing Authority to combat drugs and drug-related crime. Funds will be used for community policing, night patrols, drug prevention activities, education and employment.. Another $106,941 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Wayman Manor Apartments for a drug prevention and education program, physical improvements and community support services.

• Texarkana: $196,200 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Texarkana Housing Authority to deter crime and violence by implementing activities designed by residents, local government, the community and Housing Authority staff.

• Victoria: $86,514 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Victoria Housing Authority to reduce drug-related crime in targeted areas. Funds will be used to continue the employment of two investigators, the Boys and Girls Club of Victoria and the purchase of a van to provide transportation for Housing Authority youth.

• Waco: $532,200 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Waco Housing Authority for bike patrol services, off duty police as security, after school programming, recreation, drug education, tutorials aimed at keeping youth in school, employment and training in the drug elimination program.

• Wichita Falls: $440,200 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Wichita Falls Housing Authority to prevent drugs and drug-related crimes. The "One Strike and You're Out" policy has effectively cleared undesirable residents. New prevention programs to educate youth are in place.